Water Filtration
|Curated: How to Choose the Right Water Filter for Your Backpacking Trip
Water-borne illnesses are a sure way to ruin your backpacking trip or the weeks afterward, so you’re probably going to need a water filter? But which one? We break it down.
Water Filters vs. Purifiers: How They Work
Physical water filters utilize a cartridge with microscopic pores that catch any dirt or debris present in the water as it moves from the container past the cartridge. These water filters can vary in styles, but will mostly stay around 0.1 microns for pore size. Because dirty water is being pushed through these filters, gunk will clog them and they will need to be regularly cleaned and eventually replaced. 0.1 microns is a solid standard when choosing a filter that will be rid of most water contamination.
A purifier will rely on either chemicals (commonly iodine) or ultraviolet light to kill any contaminants in the water. The main advantage of water purification is that it will kill viruses, which are generally too small to be caught by the cartridge of a general water filter. Don’t fret – viruses are not typically found in North America, but be sure to check in before you go!
Finish reading how to choose the right water filter here: https://www.curated.com/journal/90000/how-to-choose-the-right-water-filter-for-your-backpacking-trip